Turbine fan of suction brush for vacuum cleaner

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a turbine fan of a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner, which is driven by air entering the suction brush connected with a main body of the vacuum cleaner and is rotatably disposed inside the suction brush using a rotation shaft. The turbine fan comprises a boss coupled with the rotation shaft; a supporting disk disposed at an outer circumferential surface of the boss at a right angle to the boss; and a plurality of first and second wings disposed at both sides of the supporting disk, each of the plurality of first and second wings having a first end fixed on the outer circumferential surface of the boss and a second end being a free end.

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0046415, filed May 24, 2006, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a turbine fan of a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a turbine fan of a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner using air drawn-in into the suction brush to rotate a drum brush or a cloth.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a vacuum cleaner has a drum brush in contact with the surface to be cleaned that cleans dust from the surface.

When the drum brush moves along the surface to be cleaned, the drum brush scrubs or hits the surface with a rotation force so as to separate dust from the surface. The dust separated from the surface is drawn-in into the inside of a main body of the vacuum cleaner by a suction force generated in the main body of the vacuum cleaner. Currently, a driving motor or a turbine unit supplies the drum brush with the rotation force. The driving motor is connected with the drum brush so as to selectively rotate the drum brush. Connecting the driving motor and the drum brush needs a complex structure so as to increase cost. As a result, currently it is mainly used a method that the turbine unit rotates the drum brush.

A prior art suction brush 10 having a turbine fan 30 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the suction brush 10 using the turbine fan 30 to rotate a drum brush 20, the turbine fan 30 is disposed in a suction pathway 13 through which dust is drawn-in by the suction force generated in the main body (not shown) of the vacuum cleaner (not shown) as shown in FIG. 1. The turbine fan 30 is rotated by air drawing-in into the suction pathway 13. The rotation force of the turbine fan 30 is transmitted to the drum brush 20 via a belt 15. As a result, the drum brush 20 rotates in contact with the surface to be cleaned so as to scrub or hit dust stuck to the surface. The dust separated from the surface is drawn-in into the suction brush 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, the conventional turbine fan 30 includes left and right turbine parts 31 and 33 formed to face each other. The left and right turbine parts 31 and 33 are detachably connected with each other using a connecting part 32 disposed at a center thereof. Each of the left and right turbine parts 31 and 33 has a circular supporting plate 31 a and 33 a and a plurality of wings 31 b and 33 b projecting from the circular supporting plate 31 a and 33 a at regular intervals. When assembling the left and right turbine parts 31 and 33, the plurality of wings 31 b and 33 b is assembled to deviate from each other as shown in FIG. 1.

The conventional turbine fan 30 is secured between a top case 11 of the suction brush and a bottom case 12 of the suction brush by a rotation shaft 17 passing through a center of the turbine fan 30.

Each of the left and right turbine parts 31 and 33 of the conventional turbine fan 30 are separately molded. The separately molded left and right turbine parts 31 and 33 are then assembled to form one turbine fan.

However, when assemblers assembly the left and right turbine parts 31 and 33 into a turbine fan 30, the assemblers may not apply an uniform force to the left and right turbine parts 31 and 33 so that a center line of each of the left and right turbine parts 31 and 33 is not aligned and crosses each other at any angles. Also, because the left and right turbine parts 31 and 33 are in contact with each other via an outer circumferential surface of the connecting part 32 having a small area, it is difficult to accurately assembly the left and right turbine parts 31 and 33.

Furthermore, assembly defects of the left and right turbine parts 31 and 33 cause the turbine fan 30 to lose a rotation balance. As a result, when the turbine fan 30 rotates, loud noise is generated.

Also, because the plurality of wings 31 b and 33 b of the left and right turbine parts 31 and 33 is assembled to deviate from each other, thin and long dust such as hairs, etc are inclined to be caught between the plurality of wings 31 b and 33 b. As a result, when a lot of hairs are caught between the plurality of wings 31 b and 33 b after a long time use, the turbine fan 30 cannot rotate smoothly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure has been developed in order to overcome the above drawbacks and other problems associated with the conventional arrangement. An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a turbine fan of a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner that can prevent loss of a rotation balance due to assembly defects.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a turbine fan of a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner that can prevent thin and long dust from being caught between a plurality of wings so that the turbine fan can smoothly rotate.

The above aspect and/or other feature of the present disclosure can substantially be achieved by providing a turbine fan of a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner, which is driven by air entering the suction brush connected with a main body of the vacuum cleaner and is rotatably disposed inside the suction brush using a rotation shaft. The turbine fan comprises a boss coupled with the rotation shaft; a supporting disk disposed at an outer circumferential surface of the boss at a right angle to the boss; and a plurality of first and second wings disposed at both sides of the supporting disk, each of the plurality of first and second wings having a first end fixed on the outer circumferential surface of the boss and a second end being a free end.

The plurality of first and second wings is arranged symmetric with respect to the supporting disk so that the free ends of the plurality of first and second wings are aligned.

The plurality of first and second wings is arranged at regular intervals.

The supporting disk is preferably disposed at a middle of the boss.

The boss, the plurality of first and second wings, and the supporting disk may be formed in a single body. For an example, the turbine fan may be formed in a single injection mold.

On the other hand, the boss comprises first and second bosses; the supporting disk comprises first and second supporting disks disposed at an outer circumferential surface of each of the first and second bosses at a right angle to each of the first and second bosses; a side of each of the plurality of first wings is fixed to a side of the first supporting disk, a first end of each of the plurality of first wings is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the first boss and a second end thereof is a free end; a side of each of the plurality of second wings is fixed to a side of the second supporting disk, a first end of each of the plurality of second wings is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the second boss and a second end thereof is a free end; at least one connecting projection formed at the other side of the first supporting disk; and at least one connecting groove formed at the other side of the second supporting disk for coupling with the at least one connecting projection. When the first and second supporting disks are assembled each other, the first and second supporting disks are arranged between the plurality of first and second wings.

The first and second supporting disks are preferably assembled so that the plurality of first and second wings is symmetric with respect to the first and second supporting disks thereby the free ends of the plurality of first and second wings being aligned.

The first boss, the first supporting disk, the plurality of first wings, and the at least one connecting projection may be formed in a single body. The second boss, the second supporting disk, the plurality of second wings, and the at least one connecting groove may be formed in a single body.

The first boss, the first supporting disk, the plurality of first wings, and the at least one connecting projection may be formed in a single injection mold. The second boss, the second supporting disk, the plurality of second wings, and the at least one connecting groove may be formed in a single injection mold.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a prior art suction brush for a vacuum cleaner having a conventional turbine fan;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the prior art turbine fan of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a turbine fan of a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the turbine fan of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded front view illustrating a turbine fan of a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals will be understood to refer to like parts, components and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, certain exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The matters defined in the description, such as a detailed construction and elements thereof, are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the disclosure. Thus, it is apparent that the present disclosure may be carried out without those defined matters. Also, well-known functions or constructions are omitted to provide a clear and concise description of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a turbine fan of a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the turbine fan of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the turbine fan 40 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a boss 41, a supporting disk 43, and a plurality of first and second wings 45 a and 46 a.

The boss 41 has a penetrating hole 42 through which a rotation shaft 17 (see FIG. 1) is disposed. The rotation shaft 17 is rotatably disposed inside the suction brush 10 (see FIG. 1).

The supporting disk 43 is connected with an outer circumferential surface of the boss 41 at a right angle to the boss 41. The supporting disk 43 connects and supports the plurality of first and second wings 45 a and 46 a. The supporting disk 43 has a width W2 that is much narrower than a width W1 of the turbine fan 40 as shown in FIG. 4. Also, the supporting disk 43 is preferably located at a middle of the turbine fan 40, namely between the plurality of first and second wings 45 a and 46 a. As a result, because drawn-in air is evenly divided into two parts so as to crash against the plurality of first and second wings 45 a and 46 a, the turbine fan 40 can be rotated while maintaining the rotational balance. Therefore, the noise generated by bad rotational balance when the turbine fan 40 rotates is decreased.

A first end of each of the plurality of first and second wings 45 a and 46 a is fixed on the outer circumferential surface of the boss 41 at a regular interval. A second end of each of the plurality of first and second wings is a free end 45 b and 46 b. A thickness of each of the plurality of first and second wings 45 a and 46 a gradually increases from the first end to the second end 45 b and 46 b so as to decrease resistance and noise of air crashing against the plurality of first and second wings 45 a and 46 a. Each of the plurality of first and second wings 45 a and 46 a is formed in a curved surface with a predetermined curvature and is arranged at a regular interval. Also, the plurality of first and second wings 45 a and 46 a is arranged symmetric with respect to the supporting disk 43 so that the second ends 45 b and 46 b of the plurality of first and second wings 45 a and 46 a are aligned.

Advantageously, the boss 41, the supporting disk 43, and the plurality of first and second wings 45 a and 46 a are integrally formed. For an example, it is preferable to form those as a single injection mold.

In this embodiment described above, the turbine fan 40 is described, for example, rotating a drum brush 20 (see FIG. 1) via a belt 15 (see FIG. 1); however this should not be considered as limiting. The turbine fan 40 according to the present disclosure may be applied to a suction brush having a cloth rotating unit (not shown), which rotates one or more cloths (not shown) to clean a surface to be cleaned, so as to serve as a power source in order to drive the cloth rotating unit.

FIG. 5 is an exploded front view illustrating a turbine fan of a suction brush for a vacuum cleaner according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5, the turbine fan 50 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first body 50 a and a second body 50 b.

The first body 50 a includes a first boss 51 a, a first supporting disk 53 a, a plurality of first wings 55 a, and a connecting projection 58 a and is formed in a single body as shown in FIG. 5.

The first boss 51 a has, at a center, a penetrating hole (not shown) at which a rotation shaft 17 (see FIG. 1) is disposed as described with respect to the boss 41 (see FIG. 3) of the first embodiment described above. Also, the first supporting disk 53 a is connected to a side of an outer circumferential surface of the first boss 51 a at a right angle to the first boss 51 a. The plurality of first wings 55 a has a first end fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the first boss 51 a and a second end being a free end 55 b. A side of each of the plurality of first wings 55 a is fixed to one side of the first supporting disk 53 a. The connecting projection 58 a projects from an approximate center of the other side of the first supporting disk 53 a.

Similarly, the second body 50 b includes a second boss 51 b, a second supporting disk 53 b, a plurality of second wings 56 a, and a connecting groove 58 b, and is formed in a single body.

The second boss 51 b has, at a center, a penetrating hole (not shown) at which the rotation shaft 17 (see FIG. 1) is disposed as described with respect to the first boss 51 a described above. Also, the second supporting disk 53 b is connected to a side of an outer circumferential surface of the second boss 51 b at a right angle to the second boss 51 b. The plurality of second wings 56 a has a first end fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the second boss 51 b and a second end being a free end 56 b. A side of each of the plurality of second wings 56 a is fixed to one side of the second supporting disk 53 b. The connecting groove 58 b is formed at the other side of the second supporting disk 53 b at a position corresponding to the connecting projection 58 a when assembling the first and second bodies 50 a and 50 b.

The first and second bodies 50 a and 50 b are respectively integrally formed. Each of the first and second bodies 50 a and 50 b is preferably formed in a single injection mold.

On the other hand, the turbine fan 50 according to the second embodiment has a wider contact area than the conventional turbine fan 30 when assembled. In other words, when the conventional turbine fan 30 is assembled, the contact area between the left and right turbine parts 31 and 33 is only the outer circumferential surface of the connecting part 32, but when the turbine fan 50 according to the second embodiment is assembled, the contact area between the first and second bodies 50 a and 50 b is not only the outer circumferential surface of the connecting projection 58 a but also a contact surface 55 c and 56 c of the first and second supporting disks 53 a and 53 b. Therefore, when the turbine fan 50 is assembled, the first body 50 a and the second body 50 b are stably coupled in a straight line. As a result, when the first and second bodies 50 a and 50 b are assembled, the turbine fan 50 does not lose a rotation balance so that, when the turbine fan 50 rotates, noise does not occur due to unbalance of the turbine fan 50.

In the turbine fan according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there does not occur assembly defects when assembling the first and second bodies. Therefore, the turbine fan does not lose the rotation balance due to assembly defects.

Also, because the turbine fan according to an embodiment of the present disclosure does not have the structure in that the plurality of wings of the first and second bodies deviates from each other, the turbine fan can prevent thin and long dust such as hairs from being caught between the plurality of wings. Therefore, the turbine fan can smoothly rotate.

While the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described, additional variations and modifications of the embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art once they learn of the basic inventive concepts. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims shall be construed to include both the above embodiments and all such variations and modifications that fall within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. 

1. A suction brush for a vacuum cleaner, comprising: a top suction brush case; a bottom suction brush case; and a turbine fan rotatably disposed inside the top and bottom suction brush cases using a rotation shaft, the turbine fan being driveable by air entering the suction brush, the turbine fan comprising: a boss coupled with the rotation shaft; a supporting disk disposed at an outer circumferential surface of the boss at a right angle to the boss; and a plurality of first and second wings disposed at both sides of the supporting disk, each of the plurality of first and second wings having a first end fixed on the outer circumferential surface of the boss and a second end being a free end.
 2. The suction brush of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first and second wings is arranged symmetric with respect to the supporting disk so that the free ends of the plurality of first and second wings are aligned.
 3. The suction brush of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first and second wings is arranged at regular intervals.
 4. The suction brush of claim 1, wherein the supporting disk is disposed at a middle of the boss.
 5. The suction brush of claim 1, wherein the boss, the plurality of first and second wings, and the supporting disk are formed in a single body.
 6. The suction brush of claim 1, wherein the turbine fan comprises a single injection mold.
 7. The suction brush of claim 1, wherein the turbine fan comprises a first body and a second body so that the boss comprises first and second bosses; the supporting disk comprises first and second supporting disks disposed at an outer circumferential surface of each of the first and second bosses at a right angle to each of the first and second bosses; a side of each of the plurality of first wings is fixed to a side of the first supporting disk, a first end of each of the plurality of first wings is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the first boss and a second end thereof is a free end; a side of each of the plurality of second wings is fixed to a side of the second supporting disk, a first end of each of the plurality of second wings is fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the second boss and a second end thereof is a free end; at least one connecting projection formed at the other side of the first supporting disk; and at least one connecting groove formed at the other side of the second supporting disk for coupling with the at least one connecting projection; wherein when the first and second supporting disks are assembled each other, the first and second supporting disks are arranged between the plurality of first and second wings.
 8. The suction brush of claim 7, wherein the first and second supporting disks are assembled so that the plurality of first and second wings is symmetric with respect to the first and second supporting disks thereby the free ends of the plurality of first and second wings being aligned.
 9. The suction brush of claim 7, wherein the first boss, the first supporting disk, the plurality of first wings, and the at least one connecting projection are formed in a single body, wherein the second boss, the second supporting disk, the plurality of second wings, and the at least one connecting groove are formed in a single body.
 10. The suction brush of claim 7, wherein the first boss, the first supporting disk, the plurality of first wings, and the at least one connecting projection are formed in a single injection mold; wherein the second boss, the second supporting disk, the plurality of second wings, and the at least one connecting groove are formed in a single injection mold. 